Heinrich, author of Senate statehood bills, in line to chair Energy and Natural Resources — a NAPREC perspective
Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, may take over as its chair in January, Source New Mexico reported, as Democrats move into the majority. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Puerto Rico’s petition puts statehood before Congress and the White House — a NAPREC perspective
Spectrum News reported that the joint resolution signed by Governor Jenniffer González-Colón asks Congress and President Donald Trump to make Puerto Rico the 51st state. The Puerto Rico Statehood Council called it the first such petition from the island’s legislature. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
A legislator defends the new statehood petition — a NAPREC perspective
Representative José Aponte of the New Progressive Party told Metro Puerto Rico that Joint Resolution 66-2026 differs from earlier measures because it asks Congress directly for admission instead of reporting plebiscite results. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Governor signs Puerto Rico’s request for admission — a NAPREC perspective
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed Joint Resolution 66-2026, formally asking Congress to admit Puerto Rico as a state and the President to support admission. Copies go to the President and every member of Congress. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Puerto Rico Senate requests admission as a state — a NAPREC perspective
Puerto Rico’s Senate approved Joint Resolution 204 requesting admission from the president and Congress. This action records the local chamber’s position. It is distinct from federal legislation admitting Puerto Rico to the Union. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Summer renewal extends emergency electricity measures — a NAPREC perspective
DOE again renewed two emergency orders for Puerto Rico during hurricane season. The orders continued generation and vegetation-management measures intended to reduce blackout risks during periods of high demand. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Public grid-recovery report finds limited progress — a NAPREC perspective
Publicly released July 2, GAO’s grid report found limited progress toward stability despite substantial federal commitments. It identified project-review, staffing, funding and coordination barriers, showing why recovery should be assessed through completed work and reliable service as well as obligations. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
House members announce a recovery oversight visit — a NAPREC perspective
House Homeland Security Democrats announced a June 12–13 visit to San Juan and Naranjito to assess recovery. The advisory described planned meetings about hurricane and earthquake reconstruction, education, and energy. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Guayama coal-plant project selected for federal support — a NAPREC perspective
DOE selected a project to retrofit and modernize an existing 510-megawatt coal plant in Guayama as part of a four-project federal initiative. Selection for support is a funding milestone, not evidence of completed upgrades. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Emergency grid orders renewed ahead of hurricane season — a NAPREC perspective
DOE renewed emergency orders covering essential generation and vegetation management as summer demand and hurricane risks approached. The action continued federal emergency authority rather than resolving the island’s long-term grid needs. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Governor responds to 2027 Medicare Advantage payment announcement — a NAPREC perspective
Governor González issued a statement welcoming the announced 2027 Medicare Advantage rates after technical review. The statement presented her administration’s assessment of the payment changes, rather than an independent evaluation of their eventual effects. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Officials report on a Washington statehood summit — a NAPREC perspective
PRFAA reported on the second statehood summit in Washington, bringing together Puerto Rico officials and federal participants. The release documents an advocacy effort and its stated priorities; a summit itself does not enact an admission law. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Senators introduce a renewed path from NAP to SNAP — a NAPREC perspective
Senators introduced the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act to permit full participation in SNAP. The proposal sought to replace the nutrition block-grant structure; introduction alone did not change benefit eligibility. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Final report brings together the Insular Cases inquiry — a NAPREC perspective
The Puerto Rico advisory committee issued its final report on territorial doctrine and residents’ civil rights. The bilingual report assembled its multiyear inquiry into a public resource for evaluating unequal treatment, representation and access to federal programs. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Federal emergency authority for the grid continues — a NAPREC perspective
DOE renewed two orders allowing dispatch of essential generating units and faster vegetation management. The department described the measures as support for reliability while Puerto Rico prepared for the 2026 hurricane season. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Executive order creates a healthcare-funding task force — a NAPREC perspective
Governor González signed Executive Order 2026-006 establishing a multisector task force on equitable federal healthcare funding. Its purpose was to coordinate advocacy ahead of Medicaid negotiations and address longstanding territorial disparities. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Puerto Rico Senate president requests federal healthcare action — a NAPREC perspective
Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz asked federal health officials to address Medicaid and Medicare Advantage funding disparities. His letter sought administrative action and a federal visit to examine Puerto Rico’s healthcare needs. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
Fourth memorandum examines benefits and discrimination — a NAPREC perspective
The advisory committee’s fourth memorandum examined unequal federal benefits and the role of race and ethnicity. Testimony addressed Medicaid, SSI, veterans’ benefits and nutrition assistance, documenting program differences and their effects on vulnerable residents. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
EPA completes regional Superfund reviews — a NAPREC perspective
EPA reported completion of five-year cleanup reviews at 32 sites across Puerto Rico, New York and New Jersey during 2025. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.
GAO calls for stronger oversight of federal tax exemptions — a NAPREC perspective
A publicly released GAO report identified weaknesses in IRS oversight of taxpayers claiming Puerto Rico-related federal exemptions. It also cautioned that the incentives’ overall economic impact on Puerto Rico was difficult to isolate. Original NAPREC analysis in English and Spanish.